OUTDOORS COLUMN: Now Is the Best Time To Fish

This part of the year is a sweet time to fish.

With the equinox less than three weeks away, nights are quite cool. The overnight temperature drop into the 50s will keep water temperatures in a range that means more activity from trout throughout the day. Cooler water and good flows resulting from a slightly wetter than normal summer will keep the water well aerated, and the dissolved oxygen level well into the range that makes trout actively forage.

In addition, the shortening days prompt them to make the most of the time that remains before they spawn in late fall and early winter. The energy demands of spawning make every bit of food that a trout can find now critical to its success.

Many of the flies that worked through late summer will have a role to play in fall fishing. Hoppers, crickets, ants and beetles will give good service until the first frost. In fact, hoppers and crickets make exceptional searching patterns if you’re not seeing signs of major aquatic insect activity. Don’t be afraid to use large flies in these patterns, especially the hoppers, because these insects are at the peak of their maturity.

Time is running out for one of the old standbys on mountain streams, but the Light Cahill pattern will see a couple more weeks of usefulness.

Small, dark mayflies will begin to make a more prominent appearance this month. That means that Blue Winged Olive dries in classic Catskill style and Parachute configurations will see more use. Sizes 16 and 18 should cover most of your needs.

A very large Caddis will be emerging on many streams throughout the month. Tan Elk Wing Caddis in sizes 8 through 12 will be productive searching patterns if you get bored with plopping hoppers.
Caddis dries can be fished with a dead drift upstream and a swing and skitter downstream.

Don’t neglect pupa patterns for the caddis hatch. They can be fished actively down and across anytime you’re in the mood.

The Little Yellow Stone and Yellow Sally patterns will cover most of the stonefly hatches this month in sizes 12 through 16 with the emphasis on the lower end of that range.

Now is a good time to include a traditional Southern Appalachian Mountain fly in your box in a couple of colors. The Orange and Yellow Palmers are most closely associated with Smokey Mountain fishing, but they can be used outside park boundaries. Sizes 12 and 14 work well. They give you high floatation and good visibility.

Don’t forget to keep a garment that can give you a lightweight layer of warmth in the back of your vest.

September is sweet on a trout stream. Use it to harvest some of the best memories you’ll ever have.